Opinions: How long before attempting an actual race?

[ImageFX]

I've been dealing with RC cars for a looonnnggg time now. 5 days to be exact!!!! How long (in your opinion) does it take to be able to compete with the big boys? I live right next to Superior Hobbies (superiorhobbies.com if you are interested) and I've watched those guys race before. I'm sure they will wipe my face in the dirt. But how long does it take (rough estimate) to actually be a competitor? Are we talking months? Couple years?? What do you think?

 

[ImBroken]

If you have the equiptment needed to race, I say jump right in.. You will only learn from experience bro.. I've only raced a handful of times, and still get butterflies up on the drivers platform... lol After a few laps, you'll be hooked..

 

[outlaw]

The better your competition, the more you'll learn and the faster you'll become one of the fast guys. Sounds like you're already waited 5 days too long. Go race. 8)

 

[RatzoRC]

Take as much time as you need to be able to control the RC.
If you have know idea how to drive, you may become a hazzard to the other drivers.
Just pace yourself on the track, and move over for the fast guys until you learn the track and get a better feel.
Relax and try to stay clean.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

I just started racing, having been into R/C for about 6 or 7 years, so let me share some tips I picked up after my first day racing:

1. No matter how cool you think your tool box is, someone has a cooler set-up!
2. Those pylons out on the track are marshalling positions, not bonus point markers when you run into them.
3. Take a pair of mechanics gloves to wear when you either marshall or pit for someone. Did you know exhaust pipes get hot?
4. Whatever part you think you will not need, bring it, because you will!
5. OWB's will work just fine when you practice but will crap out on your first qualifier.
6. If you take a buddy, say Jetmech, and you are racing in the same class, remind your buddy of this before he asks you to be his pit man.
7. Lead, follow or get out of the way.
8. Have fun, and no matter how many times you break something on your rig (say, oh, five) just remember, a bad day racing beats having to mow the grass again!

 

[jetmechG550]

Monkey knows best! BTW, I had a vision and you could've pit my truck!

 

[TT120]

A couple things I've learned:

1. There's ALWAYS someone faster than you.
2. Don't try to race that guy, you'll just end up crashing. Maybe both of you. (he wont like that)
3. For off road racing, you don't have to have the fastest truck to win the race. Crash less than everyone else and you'll probably win.
4. Keep your wheels on the ground as much as possible. When you're in the air or crashed waiting for a corner marshall, you're not accelerating.
5. Brakes only slow you down. Try to learn to drive without them.

 

[NvNitro]

Funny Stuff their MW...LMAO

 

[race-a-holic]

I done some play racing with my mini cooper for the first time one sunday(first time I ever drove it) and entered my first race the next weekend.It was alot of fun.Definitely need good tires.After your first race you will be buying more hop-ups if you have the money.LOL!
Finished 2nd out of 7 cars.
I just bought a touring car and hope to race again this weekend.YEAH!!!!!!!!!

 

[rossb]

Touring car racing takes a lot of skill, patience, and work. I have been racing touring cars for two seasons (although not many races per season) and I am still one of the slower guys on the track. Just try to run a good steady line and do not try to catch up to faster drivers. Start the turns high and finish them low. The things you should be most concerned with are avoiding crashes and running a decent line at a steady pace. Do not worry about the people that are passing you. If you follow these instructions you will probably finish a little less than mid pack. A large number of people crash out.

The most important parts of your setup will be tires, gearing, camber, toe, springs, ride height, and steering angle. Settings like bump stop, droop, ackerman, caster, tweak, track width, wheelbase, roll center, shock angle, shock oil, etc are used to dial-in your ride (although they are important). Make sure your tires wear evenly, if they cone you will have no traction.

I find off-road racing to be much easier than on-road. Off-road leaves much more room for error while on-road is very precise.

 

[race-a-holic]

I agree.Don't expect to win your first race.Might not even place first for a
long time.That's ok.Go for the experience.Being consistant will do wonders for ya.There was a lot of people crashing at my first race.
Ask questions if you want to.There is some great people that race.

"Have a lot of fun"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!